The Red Helmet Shell (Cypraecassis rufa), also known as the bullmouth or cameo shell, is a large and eye-catching sea snail found in warm, shallow waters across the Indo-Pacific. It lives on sandy sea floors near coral reefs from the eastern coast of Africa and Madagascar to northern Australia, the Philippines, and nearby islands. Its thick, rounded shell can grow up to 17 cm long and is marked by reddish-orange bands and knobbly ridges, giving it a helmet-like appearance.

This snail is a slow-moving predator that mainly feeds on sea urchins. It uses its strong foot to hold its prey in place and a toothed tongue-like organ, called a radula, to feed. By keeping sea urchin numbers in check, the Red Helmet Shell helps to protect coral reefs from overgrazing and plays a useful role in reef ecosystems.

Its shell has long been valued for jewellery and carving, especially for making cameos, thanks to its beautiful colour and thickness. As a result, the species has been collected in many areas, sometimes faster than it can reproduce. Although it’s not considered endangered, its slow growth and low numbers in some regions mean that careful management is important to keep populations healthy.

With its bold appearance and important place in the marine food chain, the Red Helmet Shell is both a fascinating species and a reminder of how much life on the reef depends on balance.